IF THERE is one ‘must-have’ look this autumn, it’s red lips, according to celebrity make-up artist Ariane Poole.

The This Morning and GMTV artist, who comes to Style Birmingham later this month, says being a scarlet woman is the key trend.

And it is one which we should not be afraid to follow.

“This autumn is all about elegance,” she says. “At times of austerity, elegance helps to make us feel empowered. For the lips, this is reds, but we are not just thinking in terms of pillar box red. There are a whole range of reds, such as cherries and plums.

“A lot of people are nervous of red, but there are so many ways of wearing it.

“There is a red that suits everyone. There are different hues, different densities.

“It could just be a touch of lip stain or it could be gloss dabbed with a tissue so that it is really light or worn super-glossy. It could be lip balm with a bit of colour. It is also possible to mix it with a neutral shade to soften it a bit.

“If you are not sure, talk to staff at the make-up counters about which shade or texture would work for you. And there are reds to meet all budgets. You can pick one up at Superdrug or go high-end.”

This season bright lips are worn with softer eyes.

“Colours like camels and neutral tones are very rich and feel very elegant,” says Ariane. “So my other recommended buy this season would be a caramel or coffee eye shadow. These are in velvet or suede- like textures. They are not flat mattes, but have a soft feel to them.

“I would go for navy blue eyeliner with this, as it is not as harsh as black or brown, but if people don’t want to splash out on that as well, a brown or black eyeliner would be all right.”

Alongside these two key trends, Ariane is also recommending neat and tidy eyebrows and soft rosy cheeks.

And she says fashion is important in make-up.

“When I do make-up classes a lot of people say they would like to follow the trends but they are a bit fearful of them,” she says.

“They do tend to stick to the same items as they feel safe and confident about them.

“So what we will do is go for a look they are comfortable with, but also try something which is a current trend.”

And Ariane has a final word of advice for anyone aiming to change their look.

“Book a one-to-one make-up lesson, either online or go to a counter and ask,” she says.

* Ariane Poole joins Caryn Franklin, Royston Blythe and Nick Malenko in the free stage show How To Look Good at Birmingham’s Pavilions shopping centre on September 23 and 24, at 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 4pm, and September 25, at noon, 2pm and 3.30pm. For more information, visit www.pavilionsshopping.com